GANDER, N.L. – The love of the game has earned Kevin Higgins top honours from Sports Newfoundland and Labrador.
At its annual Stars and Legends Awards Gala, in St. John’s on April 21 – which paid homage to the province’s athletic best for 2017 – the Gander resident was awarded Executive of the Year for his contributions to baseball.
Involved with both senior and minor baseball since arriving in the central town in the late 1990s, Higgins has served on the minor baseball executive for the past six years, the last four as president.
The biography provided by Sports NL states Higgins had led a successful program that saw significant registration growth – an eight per cent increase in 2017 – and was responsible for everything from hiring staff to the final execution of summer programming.
Furthermore, initiatives undertaken by Higgins included Gander hosting a provincial championship and working with the town to bring about a facility upgrade.
He also served as the head coach for the Baseball NL 21U provincial team that competed at the 21U nationals for the first time since 2013.
While Higgins wasn’t able to accept the award personally, as other commitments prevented him from attending, he called it quite an honour.
“It’s an honour just to have been nominated by our sport governing body – Baseball NL – who had the opportunity to nominate anybody from any of the associations across the province,” said Higgins. “Everybody puts their heart and soul into their sport because it’s a volunteer effort, it’s not something you do for accolades and recognition, you do it because you love the game.
“So, to be nominated and selected as a recipient is an all-around honour.”
Other 2017 award winners included
Jr. Female Athlete of the Year: Maggie Connors (Hockey)
Jr. Male Athlete of the Year: Campbell Clarke (Rugby)
Official of the Year: Scott Critch (Basketball)
Team of the Year: Team Gushue (Curling)
Volunteer of the year: David Coates (Baseball)
Coach of the Year: Peter Densmore (Rugby)
Senior Male Athlete of the Year: Liam Hickey (Sledge hockey and Wheelchair basketball)
Senior Female Athlete of the Year: Heather Healey (Baseball)
Hall of Fame inductees
Laura Breen in the “Athlete” category (Soccer)
Benedict Dunne in the “Athlete/Builder” category (Track & Field, Soccer)
John McGrath in the “Builder” category (Soccer)
John Slaney in the “Athlete” category (Hockey)
